PRIEST’S FAREWELL

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 134, 2 March 1936, Page 4

PRIEST’S FAREWELL

Parishioners Gather at Ngaio Many Roman Catholics and residents of Ngaio and KhundaUah gathered in the town hall at Ngaio last week to bid farewell to the Rev. Father Al. Griflin, who is shortly leaving for Kilbirnie. The chuinpan, Air. H. L. Ryan, paid a tribute to the work Father Griflin had done during his 14 years in the Johnsonville Parish. It was due to his zeal and untiring efforts that the parish had shown such wonderful progress. The new church at Plimmerton, the school, convent and presbytery in Johnsonville and the school in coiirse of erection at Ngaio would be monuments by which he would always be remembered. The parishioners of Ngaio and Khandallah would deeply regret his departure following such an excellent record of devotedness, both spiritual and temporal, in their interests.

For the parishioners Mr. Ryan presented Father Griffin with a well-tilled envelope. Miss Gardner, on behalf of the Children of Mary Sodality, also nuide a presentation to Father Griffin. Other speakers were Mr, E, Stockdale (Hibernian Society), Mr. IV. H. Gledhill, on behalf of non-Catbolic friends, and the Rev. Father Kavanagh. Father Griffin thanked all the speakers for their kind remarks and the generosity of those who had contributed to the presentation. lie said he had always a high regard for the people of Ngaio and Khandallah, who had given him every assistance in his many undertakings. After being in the district for 14 years and having made so many friends, he was sad at the thought of leaving them. The presentation was followed by supper and dancing. Miss Mona Smith gave two songs. The evening concluded with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”